Thermostatic radiator-shutter control



G. M. WILLIS.

THERMOSTATIC RADIATOR SHUTTER CONTROL.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 23, 191?.

1,368,673, Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

" citizen of the United GEORGE M. WILLIS-.01" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THERMOSTATIG RADIATOR-SHUTTER CONTROL.

1 Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d F b 15" 1921 Application fiiea'a rn 23, 1917. Serial No. 163,782.

T 0 all whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WILLIS, a

States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatlc Radiator-Shutter Controls, of which the fola full, clear, concise, and exact debeing had to the accompart of this lowing is scription, reference panying drawings, forming a specification.

The present invention relates to radiators for internal combustion engines and has particular reference to an. automatic thermally controlled shutter for use 1n connection therewith.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved automatic thermally con-,

trolled mechanism for regulating the amount of air to reach the radiator structure whereby to maintain the cooling medium at.av constant temperature best adapted to suit the working conditions of the engine. I

am aware that manual means for controlling the admission of air to the radiator has been suggested, but in using .manual means the requirement of the engine under varying working conditions must be handled to the best judgment of the operator, whichat its best can give results only partly efi'ective.

I am also aware that automatic means has been placed in use but such means is usually delicate, hard to reach and to adjust, incapable of but a small scope of movement, necessitating additional mechanism to increase the movement of same, and is therefore prohibitive in cost and upkeep.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the thermostatic member is located entirely within the water jacket ofthe-radiator, is simple in construction and cheap to manufacture and install.

A further object is to obtain the most accurate and effective results by actually snbmerging the thermostat in the liquid within the head of the radiator.

other objects and advantages of my invention not licrcinhcfore pointedout will appear from the following detailed description, taken with an inspection of the aecompanying drawings, in which- F gure 1 is a fragmental front elevation of a radiator, showing my improved thermal controlling means applied thereto;

Fig. 2 1s a vertical side elevation. of the same;

Fig. 3 is a modified. form of the invention. Referring more particularly to the drawmgs, wherein similar characters of reference deslgnate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, 10 designates 1n its entirety a body of a standard radiator, the same having a water jacket 11 completely encircling an active surface 12 which is composed of a plurality of interconnected tubular members serving to afford circulation of the cooling medium. The jacket 11 is provided with a top portion which I shall hereinafter term the head 13. The usual filling inlet 14: is provided in the head 13. Outside of the side portions of the jacket 11 an outer Wall 15 is usually provlded affording a space 16 which I utilize in one of the modified forms of my invention which I shall refer to later. The thermostat of my invention comprises an arm designated A in its entirety and composed of a pair of strips 17 and 18 of dissimilar metals, one end of the arm being rigidly secured to the head 13 by means of rivets 19 or the like. The armextends transversely of the head and is located beneath the water level therein, of the arm having a Vertical rod 20 extending therefrom, said rod passing through a tubular extension 21 formed on the head 13. The tubular extension is provided in this instance owing to the peculiar shape of the head of the radiator. This prevents the liquid contents of the head from passing out around the rod 20. Of course, it is to be understood that the rod fits snugly Within the opening in the tube so that a minimum space is provided between the rod and tube. A slot 22 is provided in the free end of the arm through which the rod 20 engages, said rod having an enlargement 23 thereon and a nut 24 so as to allow for expansion and contraction longitudinally of the strip without binding the rod 20. The free end of the rod 20 is bent forthe free end wardly to provide an extension arm 25. The free end of the arm 25 is pivotally connected with a link 26, said link being in turn pivotally connected with a rod 27, said rod having connections at the points 28 with a plurality of hingedly mounted shutter sections 29 mounted on the front of the ra-- diator. -It will be apparent that when the temperature of the liquid contents of the radiator changes, the free end ofthe arm A will move causing the rod 20 to be re-' ciprocated vertically, in turn actuating the rod 27 which serves to open or close the shutter sections 29, said shutter sections be ing located over the active surface of the radiator and thereby controlling the admission of air thereto.

. It will be understod that, if desired, an outer hood may be placed over the head 13 and extension tube 21'by extending the side walls 15 of the radiator body so that thereof being pivotally connected to a link 33 which is in turn pivotally connected to the rod 34 which latter is operatively' connected to the separate sections 35. If desired, the outer walls of the radiator body may be extended to cover the projecting portion of the rod 20 and its extensions so as to protect the same and present a finished appearance to the radiator.

I do not limit-myself, of 00111338 1110 the details of construction shown, the principal idea of the invention being to locate a thermostatic arm within the radiator and submerged in the liquid contents-thereof so as 1 to'control 'the shutter mechanism. Means other than mechanical means may be employed for imparting movement from the arm to the shutter mechanism, but the means shown is employed in view of its simplicity and'the cheapness with which the same may be manufactured and placed upon the market. Of course, the two strips 17 and 18 composing the arm A are riveted or otherwise securely connected in parallel relation and said arm is preferably mounted in the position shown in view of the compact arrangement afforded thereby. I reserve the right to make such changes in the detail structure as do not depart from the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed.

1. In a cooling system for an automobile engine, a radiator having a water. jacket provided with a head; and an active surface,

air pockets along the sides of said jacket,

a plurality -of shutter sections pivotally mounted on. said radiator-structure, means to connect said sections for simultaneous operation, a thermostatic arm having one end rigidly connected to said head, said arm being located wholly withinthe head and adapted to." be submerged in the liquid contents thereof, and means extending up through the head and down through one of said air pockets toconnect the free end of said thermostatic arm. with the lower end of said shutter sections whereby to control the admission of air to the active surface of ,the radiator.

2. In a coolingsystem for an automobile engine, a radiator having an active surface, 7

a thermostatic arm in the top of the radiator, said arm extending across the radiator from side to side, one end thereof mounted rigidly on the radiator wall, the opposite end being freely movable in response to temperature changes, a. plurality of shutter sections controlling said active surface, a rod operatively connecting the shutter, sections together, a shutter operator rod extending through the top of the radiator, its inner end connected directly to the free end of the "thermostatic. arm, and a link connecting its outer end to said rod to causethe shutters to be adjusted in direct response to the movement' of the free end of the thermostatic arm.

' 3. Ina cooling system for an automobile enginea-a radiator having an active surface, an elongated thermostatic arm in the upper part of the radiator, one end of the arm rigidly mounted at one side of the radiator, the arm extending su'bstantiallyacross the radiator, the opposite end ofthe arm being freely movable in response to temperature changes, a plurality of shutters for controlling the exposhre of said active surface and means movable through a wall of the radiator and connecting said free end of the thermostatic arm to said shutters for direct operation thereof.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of April, A. D. 1917.

GEORGE M. WILLIS. 

